Children's massage

Children's Massage: How to Choose a Therapist for a Baby or Schoolchild

Updated 20 October 2026

Massage for a baby and for an older child

The approach depends on age. For babies, massage is usually gentle and combined with exercises; for pre-school children it is more often a general strengthening or therapeutic course; for schoolchildren it is posture correction and relaxing the back. Before booking a baby, consult a paediatrician or neurologist: the indications and contraindications, for example high muscle tone, torticollis, flat feet or hip dysplasia, are decided by the doctor, not by the massage therapist.

What to look at when choosing a therapist

• Specialisation: whether the therapist works with children, especially babies.
• Training: medical education or relevant courses.
• Experience with your child's case: high tone, dysplasia, scoliosis.
• Approach to the child: can they build rapport, do they take their time, do they let you be present.

Studio or home visit

For a baby, a home visit is more convenient: a familiar setting, no travel, and the sleep and feeding routine is kept. But this option often costs more than a visit to a studio. For older children, a studio can be just as good. If you order a home visit, ask what you need to prepare: a table or firm surface, a clean sheet, a warm room.

Massage is usually done between feeds, when the baby is alert and not hungry. If the child is ill, has a fever or a skin rash, it is better to postpone the session and tell the therapist in advance.

How to compare offers

The price may be per session or per course, usually 10 sessions, so ask what exactly has been counted. Ask about the length of a session, whether exercises are counted, and whether advice for parents is included. Do not go only for the lowest price: for a child, experience and gentleness matter more.

On BlaBlaPrice you write one request, and children's massage therapists in your area reply in the chat with the price, schedule and home-visit terms. They see where they stand among the others, so they compete on terms, and reviews are shown beside the offers. Your phone number stays hidden until you choose. More in How it works.

What to put in your request

• child's age — in months or years;
• indications — what the doctor recommended, for example high muscle tone;
• type of massage — therapeutic, general strengthening, with exercises;
• number of sessions — a course or a single one;
• home visit or studio;
• area and date and time;
• therapist's experience and budget.

Example: “I need a course of 10 therapeutic massage sessions for a 4-month-old baby, high muscle tone as advised by a neurologist. Home visit, Cape Town, weekday mornings. A children's massage therapist with medical training. Budget up to R 120 per session.”

For adults there is massage, and for doctors' consultations, see medical services.